Yeah, it is only a cheapo Tesco digicam I use for when I go running so it is not the end of the world. Considering I was doing about 40 mph it has just got bumps and scratches and a smashed back screen, still takes photos though
I was laughing at the comment of another runner about me requiring stitches, we ran down a particularly bramble covered path and I got caught by a vicious one and as it was so humid my legs were very sweaty so the bleeding looked a bit more than it really was.
A few of us are doing the Tanners Marathon (30 mile option) 5th July but I we are going to take it very steadily to just get the hours in, as usual for these events we will probably come back heavier than when we left, it will be my last long run before Faversham.
I'll email you soon and we can meet up and possibly get some navigation in.
Jerry A runners blog-updated daily
I did ring up Faversham a couple of weeks ago for the 6hr but already full. Tanners is too soon for me, good luck, and enjoy the nibbles en-route. When i read about the stitches i thought you had properly injured yourself.
I look forward to meeting up and doing some BASIC navigation, might even squeeze in some running!!!
2011 Goals - Run 2 x 100+ mile races (16+17/04/11 London Mara x 4 - 22hrs8mins)
5K: Sub 19 (24/07/11 - Bushy Park 18:55)
10K: Sub 41 (19/03/11 40:50 - 2nd 10k of below race)
Half Mara: Sub 1:32 (19/03/11 Dorney Lake 1:26.50)
Mara: Sub 3:15 (on a road course)
Hi Jerry
How did the Tanners Marathon go? I have just received my info for the Downland Ultra, 1 piece of A4 and some instructions at the top of where it starts, what time etc and then about 20 lines of instructions for the route. I am now very worried as i think i may end up either running a lot further than 30miles and / or hoping the person in front knows the way and following them (not a good way to learn navigation).
Route instructions go a bit like this - 600m through FG on L, 1/2m along TRK to Junc, turn L, 400m FG on R
Better to muck it up now rather than being a complete novice come L2B.
My training is going fairly well, slowly upping the mpw and quite enjoy seeing the weekly totals getting bigger (i am a bit sad, i know).
Hopefully talk soon.
David
Hi David
Yuk, Tanners was tough both in terrain and the overbearing heat. I was feeling a bit unwell at about mile 22 when Box Hill reared its ugly head and then a 2.5 mile gradual incline.
I have done a race report and looking back at it , it really showed we went out with a determined attitude, I went to some really dark places at certain points but I pushed through. I have a feeling my biggest problem was dehydration as I had pee the colour odf Lucozade at mile 28.
I was assuming it was going to be like a LDWA event with loads of food and different types of drink but it only had squash/cordial.
As for your event, it is amazing how quickly you get used to the instructions and it comes second nature. My only tip is to ensure you make your decision and follow nobody unless you both agree the route. I saw some very sad fellows go wrong at 29.5 miles on Sunday and they added 1.5 miles to the route, they were furious and became (in my opinion) blaze. Keep the fluids up, mistakes happen towards the end not at the beginning.
Great to see the mileage going up, don't worry, you are like me and I topped 1000 miles for the year so far on Sunday, I raised a cup od sweet tea in celebration
Good race report Jerry, amazing the effect of insufficient fluid intake in warm weather. Shows how even experienced runners (i am classing you as one) need to keep an eye on there fluids, massively important in longer events where you will under the sun during the hottest part of the day.
1000miles for the year, wow, well done. About 250 ahead of me by my rough totting up last night. Out of interest Jerry have you purchased new trail shoes yet for L2B as you mentioned your Adidas didn't have enough cushioning and just wondered what you had gone for. Will you be changing from road to trail shoes or vice versa during L2B?
Sorry lots of questions (again) i may have to re-name you Yoda or something.
Gosh what an accolade about experience
I haven't worn my trail shoes for about a month now as I have found the going pretty dry underfoot of recent although this has changed after the terrible rain yesterday.
The general concensus of opinion between my two L2B mates is that we are sticking to our ordinary road shoes as Blackheath to Keston (CP1) is all road and then from Keston to Limpsfield Chart (CP2) it is 80% trail with a chunk of road at Tatsfield and lead up to go over the M25. From what I can see from Limpsfield Chart onwards there is a good chunk of trail, grass fields and track to CP3.
I have no knowledge of anything after that as we haven't had time to explore but I am thinking that if I do get new shoes (at this rate I will) I will probably go for a waffle bottomed training shoe such as Nike Pegasus as they will be a good cross over for general grip. I honestly don't think I will go for a trail shoe with an arch plate as the tracks are pretty good going, even in the mud.
I am hoping gass will be a little shorter in September as it is quite high over High Elms and it is easy to get waterlogged....so lots of vaseline on the toes. Jury still out about change of shoes but we have got a good support team together so we can make decisions on the fly, but my roadies were great on Sunday.
I recently stopped using Vaseline on my toes and switched to Bodyglide and it's a big improvement. Lasts a hell of a lot longer and it's far more breathable. That changes was based on the advice from the following excellent article:
Lubricant or Foot Powder?
What was the secret, they wanted to know; in a thousand different ways they wanted to know The Secret. And not one of them was prepared, truly prepared to believe that it had not so much to do with chemicals and zippy mental tricks as with that most unprofound and sometimes heart-rending process of removing, molecule by molecule, the very tough rubber that comprised the bottoms of his training shoes. The Trial of Miles; Miles of Trials
Jerry: What did you learn on your navigation course?
It was quite interesting morning of the "course", it was more best described as information sharing. One thing that is very useful to know is Mark and Denis tend you use permissive paths not just public footpaths and bridleways. To clarify, A permissive path, or permitted path, is a path (which could be for walkers, riders, cyclists, or any combination) whose use by the public is allowed by the landowner, but over which there is no right of access.
Due to this latter point you can find that when you enter a field the farmer may have a crop or other obstacle in the way and therefore you willl not be able to cross it, he/she can also instruct you to leave the land. It was therefore necessary to take a back bearing from your current location in the direction of the target (or barrier feature), say a farmhouse and then use natural features or fence lines to navigate to the feature, once arriving at the feature to confirm the back bearing.
Having just started Stage 3 we have also noticed that it is always good to be in sight of a fence line as there will be a lot of stile climbing and the woodlands make it difficult to view some features.
They also tend to use the bridleway and footpath network and you really have to have your whits about you as we had a long discussion about a 5 way intersection...so know the difference between the types of path and what constitues a bridle way (blue and white markers)...that is all for now
I hope you are well. Just wondered what sort of strategy you were going to follow for this, run 10mins walk 2mins, or just walk the hills and run at an easy pace for the rest. Not that i am getting apprehensive or anything!!!!!!!
Do you reckon sub 12hrs is doable as i would like to complete as first priority but sub 12 if possible, or am i deluded as this is first outing of 50+ miles.
My first ever 70mile week this week (18mile midweek + 18mile weekend run helped), a few niggles, and my trainers don't feel very cushioned having only done 310miles, maybe just the volume this week has made my feet sore?
We are going to have a L2B summit at my house where Mike, George and I will discuss our plans and expectations. Our club pals Peter and Brian did it in 11:13 last year in the very poor weather but they are very experienced runners/walkers. I am happy to aim for 90-120 min Stages.
Our times will be pretty good for the first 22 miles as I know it off by heart and then know the latter part of stage 3; my preference is to concentrate on a steady running pace of about 9 min/mile and walk the hills. I have just started on a new pair of road shoes and have done about 71 miles in them and are perfect for the big run, as for injuries
This happened on Friday whilst trail running and I tripped on a root and then cut my leg on some glass. Managed a 22ish mile trail run on Sunday but I have to say the wound is a tad sore at the moment as I steri-stripped it and it is a little soft still.
In all, the only thing that will slow us all down is the map reading but looking at the route the turns are pretty OK
Nice battle scar there Jerry, you should stop running around in the woods!!!!
Your plan of attack sounds well thought out, glad to hear you are familiar with the first 20 or so miles (please can i run with/behind/alongside you) as at least i wont get lost until the middle section as i won't have time to visit any of the course befroe the day!!!!! I think i will be un-supported so will have to start working out how many tons of stuff i need to carry for the duration, list is looking big and heavy already -
Raid Revo 15 Rucksack with 1.8l bladder
Tube of Nuun Tablets
5 x High5 Carb sachets (1 for each CP)
10 x Gels (poss less)
2 x Sandwiches
Jaffa Cakes
Blister Kit
Change of socks
Change of t-shirt
Wind/Waterproof Jacket dependant on weather
Phone + Cash
Map (don't forget this)
iPod
It's a good job i am more cart horse than race horse. I don't know if we will get to meet before the big day, best of luck with this weeks training, if like me this will be last big week before i start winding down.
Raid Revo 15 Rucksack with 1.8l bladder Tube of Nuun Tablets 5 x High5 Carb sachets (1 for each CP) 10 x Gels (poss less) - maybe more? 2 x Sandwiches Jaffa Cakes Blister Kit Change of socks - shouldn't need this if you have decent socks? Thorlos? Change of t-shirt - is this really needed? Wind/Waterproof Jacket dependant on weather Phone + Cash - credit card better than cash Map (don't forget this) iPod
10 x Gels (poss less) - maybe more?
Change of socks - shouldn't need this if you have decent socks? Thorlos?
Change of t-shirt - is this really needed?
Phone + Cash - credit card better than cash
David - couple of thoughts from me (hope you don't mind). I would take more than 10 gels - just my pref. You are likely to be out there for a while. During a 50 miler in Jan I used probably 15 - 20.
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